5 Surprising Facts About John Wayne Gacy, The Original Creepy Ass Clown

We thought the creepy ass clown trend of 2016 was over, until last week when a teen was arrested for threatening his school with images of — you guessed it — creepy ass clowns. To better prepare us for the continuation of this fad, we're taking a look back at John Wayne Gacy, the serial killer who is most notable for his association and penchant for clownery.

Back in the mid 70s, Gacy was responsible for the deaths of at least 33 boys who he had raped and murdered. Before he was convicted, though, Gacy was known as a friendly neighborhood clown. Throughout his imprisonment, he became known for his terrifying paintings of — what else — clowns!

Gacy's story is well-trodden for serial killer enthusiasts, but we've collected five surprising facts about the notorious killer, below.

2. In 1978, Psychic Investigators inspected Gacy's house to try and find one of his victims' body.

"Your victim's body is located near a place where there is a strong smell of petroleum oil," claimed psychic Carol Broman.

3. A psychology student named Jason Moss befriended Gacy and a handful of other killers while they were in prison.

Gacy tried to rape and kill him during a conjugal visit in jail.

4. Gacy was kind of a swinger.

According to the journal Murder in Mind, Gacy participated in wife-swapping while living in Waterloo.

5. Gacy's last meal was fast food

More specifically: he ordered a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, a dozen fried shrimp, french fries, fresh strawberries, and a Diet Coke.

[Photo: Wikimedia Commons]

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